Teeterboard supported on two spaced springs



ATTOQNEY July 2, 1968 1.. F. FRENCH TEETERBOARD SUPPORTED ON TWO SPACED.SPRINGS Filed March 23, 1965 United States Patent Oflice 3,390,879 Patented July 2, 1968 3,390,879 TEETERBOARD SUPPORTED ON TWO SPACED SPRINGS Leo F. French, 500 E. Johnson St., Fairfield, 1]]. 62837 Filed Mar. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 442,119 I Claims. (Cl. 272-54) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to toys of the seesaw type and more particularly to a construction in which a teeterboard is carried on springs. A particular feature of the invention resides in a simplified and economical construction where. in a teeterboard is solely supported on a pair of parallel springs in the plane of the teeterboard, such sole support consisting only of said pair of springs, wherein a unitary construction is achieved by welding the springs between a pair of end plates such that one end plate is welded to the teeterboard and a support bar insertable in a ground fixture is welded to the other end plate. A simple and novel handle arrangement comprising a V-shaped bar secured to the teeterboard is a further feature of the invention.

It is an object of the invention to provide a teeterboard of simple and rugged construction, suitable for public playground use. It is another object of the invention to provide a device of the kind described which will give a maximum of motion for little effort and one which will be safe in use for small children. Other objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the description which follows.

Briefiy, the invention comprises a teeterboard construction consisting of a single rigid tube having ends to which seats or saddles are fastened and having a center portion integrally secured to a pair of helical springs which are fairly closely spaced. The springs at their upper ends are thus secured to the tube or pipe and at their lower ends are integrally secured to a ground support means. A strong handle structure is provided consisting of an inverted V-shaped bar or tube having ends welded to the main tube and having cross piece handle grips secured to respective sides of the inverted V.

A detailed description of the invention now follows in conjunction with the appended drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevation partially in section of the invention of the ground support structure;

FIG. 2 is an elevational detail in cross section of one of the saddles, and

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the invention comprises the combination of an elongated member such as a tube or pipe which may be of the order of 4 or 5 feet long and which carries at its ends wood saddles 12 bolted to metal plates 15 as by bolts 18. The plates 15 are welded to the upper surfaces of the respective ends of the member 10.

The tube 10 is carried on a pair of helical springs 22 having upper ends welded to a plate 25 and lower ends welded to a plate 28. The plate 25 is welded to the lower surface at the central portion of the member 10 and the plate 28 is welded to the top of a vertical pipe or bar 32 suitably encased in a concrete 35 which will be understood to be sunk into the ground.

A handle structure comprising an inverted V bar 38 welded at its ends to the top surface of the member 10 carries on respective legs a handle bar 45 having finger notches 48. The bars 45 may be welded in midposition on the respective legs of the V member 38. This constitutes a very strong and rugged arrangement to be gripped by children at each end of the device to support and balance themselves and to pull and push their weight with respect to the saddles in order to cause motion of the member 10, as indicated by the arrows A and B, in two planes. The spring arrangement is such that the springs can bend with respect to their axes in opposite directions in order to get the horizontal swaying motion designated by the arrow B. Thus, the motion which children may impart to the ride may be up and down or left and right, or a combination of such motions, giving the effect and amusement of a floating sensation affording considerable enjoyment.

It is apparent from the above description that the invention is inherently of a simple and rugged nature and one which, despite its simplicity, can furnish considerable amusement to small children as well as beneficial exercise. It is likewise apparent that changes may be made as a matter of design skill. However, I have found specifically that the use of two springs spaced in proportion to the length of member 10 approximately as shown give a motion effect not possible with prior art multispring constructions, plus a stability not possible with a single spring. In ordinary seesaw motion, one spring is in tension while the other is in compression, which can be combined with a bending motion of the springs to give an infinitely variable ride movement.

It is particularly pointed out that the construction affords economical mass production by virtue of its simplicity not only as to the integral handle assembly which can be made as a single unit and then attached to the main elongated teeterboard member 10 by welding, but also by the spring unit which is a unit assembly of a pair of open coil helical springs integrally fastened as by welding to a pair of identical plates 25 and 28. Thus, the final assembly of the device is very simple, consisting essentially of welding the inverted V structure to the tube 10 and welding the spring unit to the tube 10 and to the support bar 32. Obviously, the subassemblies of the handle structure and the spring unit can be achieved in relatively simple welding jigs and the final assembly of attachment of such subassemblies to the member 10 and the support bar 32 can likewise be accomplished in a relatively simple jig, which jig can also be designed to hold plates 15 in position for welding.

Having thus described the invention, it is realized that changes may be made without departing from the spirit thereof and, therefore, it is not desired that the invention be limited to the precise illustration herein given except as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

'1. A teeterboard comprising an elongated member having seats at its ends, a sole support for such member consisting of a pair of spaced helical compression springs having spaced parallel axes in the plane of the elongated member and being secured and relatively fixed with respect to each other at their upper ends thereto at a center portion thereof, and means for fixedly securing the lower ends of said springs relative to each other, said springs having universal freedom of flexibility.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1, including a handle structure comprising an inverted V-shaped bar having ends terminating at and secured to said elongated member and extending in a generally vertical plane and handle members carried on respective legs of said bar.

3. In a device as set forth in claim 1, including means for securing the upper ends of said springs to said elongated member comprising a plate, said springs being welded thereto, said plate being welded to the lower portion of said elongated member.

4. 'In a device as set forth in claim '1, said last-named means comprising a plate, the lower ends of said springs being welded thereto, a vertical member welded to said plate and extending downwardly therefrom intermediate the axes of said springs.

5. In a device of the class described the combination of an elongated teeterboard member having seats at the ends thereof, .a spring unit support therefor comprising a pair of spaced open coil compression springs having spaced parallel axes and being secured at corresponding ends to a respective plate, a support bar integrally secured to one of said plates intermediate the axes of said springs and having an axis parallel to the axes thereof and ex- 10 3,890,879 I 3 y ,1 a:

, :4 T F f 7 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,113,488 4/1938 Milton et al. 272-30 2,720,395 10/1955 Panske 27230 2,735,679 2/1956 Mortenson 2;72-30 2,738,831 3/1956 Sage 27254 2,746,754 5/1956 Martel 272'52 3,089,699 a 5/1963 Flesch 272-54 3,292,924 12/ 1966 Wormser et'al. 27254 RICHARD C. P'INKHAM, Primary Examiner. ANTON O. OECHSLE, Examiner. -A. W. KRAMER, Assistant Examiner. 

